Understanding The Times Which we Live

Understanding he Times Which We Live

Bro. Lee Vayle - January 21, 1968

a) Now, Bro. Miller has announced on the three nights in the week I believe that this series here will be very important to everyone who cares to know what has been set forth by the most vindicated man since the time of Christ Himself. And that's our Bro. William Branham. And tonight I want to speak on a message which will be related to this morning's message, which is 'Understanding the Times Which we Live'. And then tonight to bring you a subject that is so vastly misunderstood and is the main reason why the people will not believe in what God has set forth for the end time.

Most people if you were to ask them, "what is God?" They would attempt to tell you they believe God is the Supreme Being. But, when it comes to the define a relationship to God, you'll find that they do not believe what they say. Because right today you will find the majority of people who have any virile understanding of God, will end up by defining God as a power which they use. Now, think it over. Do you believe that God is in control of you, or do you really believe that you actually control God?

b) Now, if you're honest, you're going to have to admit that your understanding of God is a power that you yourself use, and you by certain Scripture, or certain laws, that faith controls. And this is diabolical, because this is not Scripture. Is that right? Come on now, be honest, we're here to find out a few things. If you're wasting your time and I'm wasting mine, without being heart seaching we're trouble. Because it's all but over brother/sister. Scripture says that Christ is going to come back when Jerusalem is no longer trodden down by the Gentiles. It's no longer trodden down.

You can read it anyway you want, but Israel is in control today. That was the characteristic of the end time. So, we must know what God has said for this Age. We discussed that this morning. But tonight, I want to talk about a prophet. What is a prophet? I said awhile ago people don't know what God is. Really we don't. If God's a sovereign Being, He's in the driver's seat. He's controlling none. But we've got another idea as Christians. We believe that we're controlling God. If you don't believe that's the truth, then why is it that people around the world are saying, "Let's have a great big revival and bring Christ back?" How do you know? They're saying it. Every magazine you pick up is full of the same thing. Right? Somebody has got to be wrong, and it is not God and His Word, so something is wrong with us. But, what is the prophet? I maintain according to Scripture the prophet Elijah has got to return in this Age. Would you know him if you saw him? Would your definition of a prophet be the Word's definition? So, without trying to scare you and make it too intriguing I just want to say the message tonight is a prophet who is a fallible man. He 's a fallible man, but he becomes infallible with the Word of God.

Suddenly this person changes, takes on the magnitude from God, and with God that let all men tremble. Yet, if you dissected him, and took him apart, he wouldn't be one bit different from you. I want to talk about a prophet tonight. Tuesday I want to talk about the 'Two Vines'. Why is it in the last day we were warned that only the very Elect would not be deceived. There would be people come on this earth who would be so close to what you would demand of yourself in your thinking to be of God, yet there'll be deceivers of the highest order. Very Elect only will not be deceived. The two vines. Then on perhaps Wednesday and Thursday I want to talk about the one thing that causes more trouble in this age, and has for ages than any other thing has ever caused, and that is, there is only one God or three gods. Or can you get away with believing that there is one God manifest in three persons? In other words, is God's arithmetic different from ours? If I saw three balls in a row, I'd say that's three, although they're made of the same substance. But things in theology you can change that. You can see three and you can say there's one. I don't know, there's somebody cross-eyed or drunk. As far as I'm concerned there's something wrong somewhere.

d) But, suddenly three can become one as far as theology is concerned. Is there one God, or are there three gods? That will take two nights if I use those subjects. Sunday morning, next Sunday I want to speak on 'The Righteousness of God Imputed'. But not what you heard last time. I want to show you that the sin question is once and for all settled. And if you understand the sin question, you'll understand the righteousness question, you'll see where you stand.

And on Sunday night, I want to speak on 'God's Word Manifested in Flesh'. Because this is the most important thing in the world, people are missing this thought. All of these are subjects which I have no hesitation to declare unto you that the seed thoughts all came from a man that I believe was the prophet for this Age. I hope I haven't scared you and if you'll come back and listen, because I dearly love to talk to people. And so then what I'm convinced is the Word, you can take and do what you want with It in a way. But, It's always nice to know if there is someplace we're missing. I would hate to be in that number who will stand like they did in the days of Jesus. And say, "Now, wasn't this suppose to happen, wasn't that suppose to happen?" It's already done happen, you didn't know it. (See?)

e) Now, that's a possibility, and the possibility will be brought out I trust this morning very clearly. Those are the subjects then as far as I know this week, it maybe I'll change the subject on 'Godhead', to the 'Lamb's Book of Life', or some subject on 'What is the Baptism with the Holy Ghost', I don't know. We'll just see as the Lord leads. But I do know that what we're up against in the near future is going to be the reversion to a strict inherence to the Trinitarian doctrine, or you're out. Burn you at the stake just like they did Servetus. I wouldn't be surprised. I'm not saying that's going to happen for sure, but I just wouldn't be surprised. Because this is the major problem today and will be, which is going to be. There'll be no chance for anybody who believes in one God. You're going to have to believe in a triune, well a trinity, the word 'triune' is not bad if you know what you're talking about.

But, the subject I thought was so important which would take a minimum of three nights, I think we can take it in two nights. Now, before we go into the subject this morning, let's bow our heads in prayer.

Gracious Heavenly Father, we know this is a very serious time, and this, Lord, is the time when people who hear the words of any preacher ought to weigh them very, very carefully. And, Lord, this morning I am opening anything that I have to say to the absolute scrutiny of the deepest order to this people. Praying therefore, Lord, for them that they may do this. I pray now for myself, and I man say the very words of Thyself, O God, that they may be upon the lips. Anoint the lips, O Lord, I pray and anoint the heart also that in many, Lord, the ears, hearing also, so there maybe anointed lips, anointed ears, and anointed hearts. God, grant it this morning I pray, for we want to be in one with You in Spirit and in Word.

So, Lord, we commend ourselves to now in the Name of Jesus Christ, believing that that Spirit of God in us will not only be that great force, the Illuminator, but also be very strict guard upon us, lest we move to the left, or to the right, we just go right in that way which is the Word. We ask it in Jesus' Name and for His glory, but for our eternal great good for so much is at stake, in Jesus' Name. Amen.

1. To understand the times in which we live, and I want you to turn first of all to 1Peter 1:10-12

(10) Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: (or the grace coming unto you, future tense.)

(11) Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, (or was declaring) when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory (which) should follow.

(12) Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which (they spoke of, see? and which) are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.

Now, we just thumb back to for a little verse in the Book of Daniel 9:2, and we'll see what Daniel did.

(2) In the first year of his reign I Daniel understood by books the number of the years, whereof the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah the prophet, that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem.

Now, from these verses which I have read to you, you can understand that many things that are set forth in the Word of God are veiled in mystery. The people to whom it was written never clearly understood many of the great prophecies, or the great thoughts in the Word of God. And the Scriptures which I have read clearly show this. Notice that Peter said that the prophets, to whom the Word was given. They tried to figure out the very things that they were saying, and to understand at what time those words given, were to be applied illustrated by Daniel, who had an understanding of what was in the Word. He could read what was there, but he didn't know just when It would be applied and under what condition they were exactly.

2. Now, these people who wrote the Word, (these prophets) couldn't get answers. Because you see what they were declaring was for a future time, and therefore they were literally ministering. Now mind you they were literally ministering...to a people who had not yet appeared on the scene. (See?) What they declared, (as Peter said here, signify which is the word 'declare') by the Spirit of God was not for themselves. but was for others. But somebody, somebody or some bodies, I'll just use 'somebody', because the personally, was to receive the prophet's declared Word in their day for which that Word was declared, though it had previously come forth. Something like a chicken laid an egg. It doesn't hatch right away, got to get under an hen. You can maybe put that egg away for a few weeks, and then put the egg under the hen, (what is it? Twenty one days, it comes out, I never, not too much of a farmer, don't know what days,) but something like that. (See?) This Word was declared and It was for a future day, and therefore they were ministering to a people not yet existed even.

Now, when the Word came to the prophet It was a great mystery to those prophets. But one day, the mystery, (now watch carefully) but one day the mystery has to be revealed by the actual fulfillment of that mystery to the people to whom it was given. Do you follow me?

3. Now, watch carefully, my words are very carefully weighed here. There was mystery involved in the great prophecies. But, there had to come a day when the mystery would be removed by the fulfillment of that Word. (See?) Then It wouldn’t be a mystery any longer. Because It was visibly declared and manifested by the fulfillment of that Word. (See?)

The question arises: how did God make the people to understand what Word was taking place in their day? (See?) Go back again, they didn't know what they were saying. As one person once said, they told better than they knew. What it was, was the anointed mouth but not the anointed understanding. Oh my God, if you could see the day there is almost every creature today has got an anointed mouth. But he hasn't got the anointed understanding and the anointed heart. I hope you caught that, it be on tape. Copy it down sometime and watch and see what I'm telling you the truth.

4. They had an anointed mouth, "Thy Word was altogether in my tongue." David spoke by the Holy Ghost. But they didn't really know what they were talking about, and they were ministering to a people further down the age. The question now arises, how does God deal with His people, so they could know the Word that's being applied to them that was written to them? Do you follow me? Does this make sense now? So far getting you, what I'm driving at. We must under-stand this. How did God make the people to understand what Word was taking place in their day?

Now, listen carefully to my next statement. How did the people identify with the Word? (See?) How did the people identify with the Word? How did they know to identify with the Word? (See?) You know it today that people don't identify with the Word. How do they know to identify with the Word? You've got nine hundred and some different denominations right here in America. I believe, or six hundred and some. I'm not sure, but even eight is too many. But the government is coming along and they spend two more years, but just two major ones. They'll resolve your problems, just like Constantine did. ...?... Oh yeah.

5. How did they know to identify with the Word? But even more important and tragically, how did the majority fail to identify with the Word that was so clearly sent forth here? (See?) Which was written right down the front of course as I say, there's a mystery involved there.

Let me put it another way to get at my thought. God has made certain great and blessed promises to His people. Now, these promises are of two qualities. They have to do with the temporal under which you are now living, and a consummation of period. Follow me? (See?) Certain great promises, certain great ones. The Word has great promises in them. Those promises are now going on, and were given in certain ages that they might go on. But, also those promises are great prophetical promises which do with consummation of period,

In other words, there's going to come a day brother/sister when there won't be anybody on earth here in the sense to receive temporal promises. You're going to be in an new Age, at least this Age here is going to be consummated, and God has got something to say about His great Word while you're living and His great Word which is a word of consummation when you're going to be taken out of this thing, and you're going to be changed, is that right?

6. All right, God has then made great, certain great and blessed promises to His people. These promises, (some of them at least, well, we can almost say all of them) He has surrounded by prophetical events. And today we're interested in the prophetical events. In other words, the promises of consummation. All history, (now, listen carefully) all history has become a waiting, a waiting, you know, period. We're waiting here, for God's Word to be fulfilled in His people.

You see, let me... show you my language here, I might have said to you this morning they were waiting for God to fulfill His Word to His people. Don't you believe it. Don't you believe it, you're going to miss it. God does not fulfill His Word to His people, the Word must be fulfilled in the people. Next Sunday night, we'll discuss that so thoroughly you won't have a problem. Just take it this morning now the way it was given.

7. All history has become a waiting, period, for God's Word to be fulfilled in His people. And all history proves that those, (now watch it) who have identified themselves with the fulfilling of God's Word in majority have miserably failed to receive the promises and actually reject them. Do you understand me? (Uh?)

Let me go over it again: All history proves that those who have identified themselves with the Word, or the fulfilling of the Word, God's Word, in majority have miserably failed to receive the promises, but actually are guilty of rejecting. They turned It down flat, when It got there, though they said, "This is ours, we are waiting for." You follow me? Do you follow my statement? All right.

8. Now, the two major promises in the Word of God have to do with the Coming of Messiah to Israel, and the return of Jesus Christ for the Bride. Those two are the major functional events of God's entire history. The Coming of Messiah as a man of flesh, and the Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ to catch His people up in the air, to be with Him forever.

In the first case which is God coming as Messiah to Israel, though Israel to whom the Word of God was given. Now watch it: Brother/sister, please listen to every word and let it stab your heart if I can ask you to do so. In the first case though Israel to whom the Word was given, was properly identified with the promise of Messiah. Is that true? Is it? She missed Him almost entirely, but for a bare majority.

9. I'm going to prove what I said. Romans 9:

(1) I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost,

Paul is talking by the Holy Ghost, he's got something to say.

(2) ...I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart.

(3) For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh:

(4) Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, (the placing of sons) and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises;

(5) Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came,...

Now, do you see what I meant when I said, "In the first case, though Israel to whom the Word was given. The one who was given the Word? Didn't Israel have the Word given...had It in the dispensation of angels ...?.... didn't they? Didn’t God send the messenger both supernatural and natural, didn't He? Didn't they have the Word?

10. All right, let me ask you this question: Were they not properly identified to receive the Messiah? Yes, because they not only had the Word, but the Messiah came from the tribe of Judah. He came to Israel as pertaining the flesh, and yet they missed Him. So, that can't happen today? Why did Israel all the while identify herself with the Word promise Messiah, miss Him? Why did Israel all the while identify herself with the Word-promised? That’s the hyphenated compound word, Word promise. Not some Ouija board, not some voice out of the air. But the Word-promise Messiah. (See?) Why in Israel all the while identifying herself with the Word promised Messiah miss Him? Why did they miss Him? What's going on anyway?

The answer is very evident. Christ came according to the Word, exactly as God said He would come, but contrary to Israel's interpretation of that Word. Are you putting all this together? All right, let's go over it again. Israel was the one people to whom the Word was given. The one people to whom the Messiah could come. They were properly identified with the Word. You say, "Bro. Vayle, how could they be properly identified ...?....?

11. All right, do tell me, who else could He have come to? Could He have come to Rome? Should He have gone to Athens? Constantinople? Carthage, Tyre, Babylon? Washington? It wasn't in existence, but I bring it out. Could He? No! There was only one people He could go who had the Word. And they had the Word. And they had the flesh. ...?.... And He came exactly according to the Word the way God said It. But He didn't come according to the way they interpreted the Word. So, they missed Him. Though they were properly word and flesh identified with God. I have to preach this way to make this serious. And I hope you're getting it. Because there's six hundred if not nine hundred and some denominations with all of these ideas. And God never ever did anything other than the way He did it in the beginning. He doesn't now suddenly change, nor does history.

The answer is evident, Christ came according to the Word. He surely did, exactly as God said He would come. But He came contrary to Israel's interpretation of that Word. Now, that is the crux of the whole matter. They were looking for Him, did you know that? They were. Why they said, "Hallelujah, He's going to come not to Rome, you can rest assured. Now, Rome they have power over it, but glory to God He's our Messiah."

12. Now, didn’t' they say that? They were looking for Him. They were identifying with the fulfillment of God's good Word. They said, "He's ours." You bet, they missed Him. They took His promise-coming from the Word, they knew it was the major event. They knew that this was it as far as God and they were concerned, this was the consummation. Whatever came out of Israel was tremendous, but this was it, for nothing else came.

How many people would love to see the Lord come, really come and we be caught away? We would, you know why? Because you're tired of this. I would say, "What do you know is really coming after He Comes?"

You say, "I don't know, I just want to get out of this, because when that Comes, that leads me into an new era. That's exactly right, supposing you miss Him. They missed Him. They took His promise-coming from the Word. You couldn't miss that if you tried. They claimed it, they said, "That's ours." And they lost it.

13. Let us look at the amazing situation of Israel and analyze it. First of all they claimed and assured relationship to God both physically and spiritually. They knew where they stood. John 8:41, You see, Jesus said,

(41) (You) do the deeds of your father. They said to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God.

They understood the Godhead. They understood their relationship to God. They said, "God is our Father." They had a firm strong statement concerning relationship to the Godhead. In verse 33

(33) They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and never (were) in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, (You) shall be made free?

They understood their lineage. They knew they were the chosen people. At least that was their confession. They claimed the assured relationship to God. But were they right? No. Because their relationship to God was not based upon the Word. The Scripture that Jesus Himself said, "They made void the very Word of God." And rendered It null, because of their traditions. And yet they took their stand that they were God's people.

14. Secondly, they governed the access to God and worship to God. In John 9:22

(22) These words spake his parents, because they feared the Jews: for the Jews had (already) agreed, that if any man did confess that he was (the) Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue.

You noticed that they controlled synagogue worship. They controlled the worship of God. And in verse 34 of the same chapter,

(34) They answered and said... Thou wast altogether born in sins, and dost thou teach us? And they cast him out.

Now, I admit that they alone were the chosen people, because the Gentiles could not come in. But, in spite of this they still missed Jesus Christ and said, "If anybody calls Him the Christ and wants to worship Him, we'll put him out of our religion. They had a closed shop.

15. Thirdly, they claimed to know the Word with the ability to teach It. As It says over here in verse 29

(29) We know that God spake unto Moses: as for this fellow, we know not from whence he is.

For exactly as It says in verse 34,

(34) ...Thou wast born in sins, and dost thou teach us? And they cast him out.

They claimed the ability to interpret the Word of God. What was this? It was a closed priest-hood. This was a group of people who came together and they said, "We have by our under-standing of this Word, and because of our agreement together, know that we have the highest order of the Word, this is the way it is. But it was a hundred percent wrong for all of their claims. They claim to know the Word with the ability to interpret It.

16. Now, you will notice here what I have just brought out, the case of failure is to receive Jesus Christ did not have to do with the absolute ignorance of the Word. (See?) And there's where people go wrong. They say. "If we're going to miss this thing, it's going to be because we're ignorant of It." That's not true! Absolute ignorance is not it, you have a better chance of standing before God justified in absolute ignorance than you do standing before Him with half a truth. Because remember, they that died without the law are judged without the law, and the heathen never heard the Gospel are judged apart from the Gospel. But brother/sister, when you and I hear the Gospel and claim to know the Gospel we're going to be judged by the truth of the Gospel whether we believe It or not or just said we did.

You see, that's the hellish part of it, it's a damnable part. You got to watch out for the subtility of Satan. See, people have an idea brother/sister that there are two great powers, God and the devil. That's wrong, there's only one great power and that's God. Because the Scripture says, "God is Almighty." Now, if He's Almighty, He's got all power. And if He has one iota of power that's not His, then He's not almighty. Because almighty means Almighty belongs to God. So the devil's power is perverted power. That's why the tree in the Garden was the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, not the knowledge of good as contrasted to evil.

17. The damnation of all Ages brother/sister has been the inter-mingling of God's Word with what man did, not what God said. And Israel claimed the interpretation of God's Word, and they missed It, because It was not according to truth. They were looking for the fulfillment of God's Word, but not according to truth. (See?) They repudiated the Word fulfillment of the Word, and desired their own criterion. Turn to John 7:3-5

(3) His brethren therefore said unto him, Depart hence, and go into Judaea, that thy disciples also may see the works that thou doest.

(4) For there is no man that doeth any thing in secret, and he himself seeketh to be known openly. If thou do these things, shew thyself to the world.

(5) For neither did his brethren believe in him.

(6) Then Jesus said unto them, My time is not yet come: but your time (but your time is now already.)

You'll notice in here that the people did not understand the actual fulfillment of the Word of God the way It was to be fulfilled according to the Word. They said It was going to be fulfilled this way, that way, and of course It wasn't fulfilled the way that they thought. It was fulfilled the way Almighty God wanted It fulfilled.

18. And in Matthew 12:38, It says,

(38) Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee.

Now notice, Christ coming on the scene properly according to the Word. But they had Him coming on the scene according to their interpretation of the Word. So, when He came on the scene and He was working in secret and was not making a great show, they said, "Well, we don't under-stand this. If your Messiah, if you're what the people think Your are, and if You are what You have said You are, then how do You work in secret? No man can show himself openly working in secret, come on out in the open and do the mighty things we say that are going to be done by Messiah."

The Scribes and Pharisees came and they said, "Now do a sign, just do what we want you to do, and then we'll know that You're Messiah." But, He couldn't do that, because He was bound to fulfill the Word of God we can't change. (See?) And when He couldn't fulfill the Word of God their way, they wouldn't take the Word of God being fulfilled God's way, because they said, "We are going to have Word fulfilled the way we want It fulfilled, or else forget it."

19. And notice, all the while brother/sister, these people were honestly fervently believing in their identification with the Word and the Messiah who must come today, and they were looking for Him, and they missed it all. And the Scripture said they're missing it.

Now, get this brother/sister, because I'm not lying to you. Psalm 69: He hung upon a cross, He said, "Take their names out of the Book of Life."

"Oh," (people say) Bro. Vayle." Don't Bro. Vayle me, I didn’t write the Book. But I believe It. I believe it. I believe their names we're blotted out of the Book of Life. And they stand in the judgment. There is no hope for them, they go into the lake if fire, because that's the Bible says.

20. Now, they were in the Word, because in the sense of the Word was given to them. But they repudiated that Word, because they wanted It fulfilled according to their own criteria, rather than the way God said It would be fulfilled. It was this attitude that caused them to deny John the Baptist and the Lord Jesus Christ. Let's go to Isaiah 40:3

(3) The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.

(4) Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places (made) plain:

(5) And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.

(60 (And) the voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field:

(7) The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the LORD bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass.

(8) The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.

21. Now, let's turn to Malachi 3:

(1) Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me:...

And again in Malachi 4: verse 5 and part of 6

(5) Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD:

(6) And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, ...

The second part you can delete, because that has not been fulfilled as in the Book of Luke 1:17.

Now, I want you to notice something here, as you watch the language carefully as brought forth in Isaiah 40: which describes the coming of John, for It says here for our understanding the voice of one crying in the wilderness, "Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert the highway for our God, every valley shall be made exalted, and every mountain and hill be made low, and the crooked shall be made straight, the rough places made plain." [Isa 40:3-4]

21. Now, immediately upon reading those verses our minds are intrigued with the thought that here is something tremendous is going to take place. Something of vast moment to the world, because this will be so stupendous since man coming on the scene that the valley's will come up, and the high places will come down. But that didn't happen, not the way they thought. But it happened, because notice what It says over here, "what shall I cry?" The bringing of the high places down and the low places up, is, "what should I cry, all flesh is grass." Says is grass. "And the goodness thereof is the flower of grass. The grass withereth, the flower fadeth, because the Spirit of the Lord bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass. The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the Word of our Lord shall stand. [Isa 40:6-8]

And that's exactly what it was, they have lifted themselves up. Listen, when Israel was taken into captivity, they left Israel with a temple, with the Torah, and with the Levitical order. And when they came back, they had a synagogue, a Talmud and a Rabbinical order. They ...?... signifying God. So therefore, God was already deposed. He was missed, He was put out of their lives as a nation. They had turned from God, because they have taken their own word. Exalted themselves, made mountains for men to rain upon. They had madevalleys to persecute the low people. And now God said, "I'm going to send a voice among you, and the Word of the Lord is going to stand, and I'm going to level all of you, I'm going to show your organization, your methods, and everything is entirely wrong. I'm going to bring it down to one common level, you need a Savior."

22. And they said, "Who's going to take that nonsense, we're looking for some great big thing to come."

John the Baptist came on the scene, and they said, "Who are you anyway?"

He said, "I'm the voice of one crying in the wilderness, make straight the path of our Lord. I'm that one calling, bring down mountains, lift up the valley." And he said, "O generation of vipers, who's warned you to flee the wrath of God?" He leveled them all.

And they said, "Well, we just can't take this stuff." They weren't interested.

23. Over here in the Book of Micah. Let us look and see something in the Book of Micah here, chapter 5:2

(2) But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.

Listen, when the three wise men came, and they said, "Where is the King of the Jews? Where is this One to be King of Israel?" And they went, and Herod was very excited, and he said, "I'll bring those who know the Word of God." Herod was a Jew himself, he was all messed up. He was one of those sub rulers, (you know) power given by the Roman empire. So, they brought in those that want to know and they said, "Where is this one to be born, the Messiah?"

"Well, (they said) we know where He's going to be born." Certainly. "Why, (they said) it's down there in Bethlehem, in Judah." They had His mark, they knew exactly where He's come from. But then He came on the scene and He performed the acts of Messiah, when He showed them He was Messiah; when He fulfilled the Word of God the way the Word was written, not the way they interpreted It, and I believe that Nicodemus stood up and he said, "How can we condemn this man?"

And they said, "Search and see, no prophet came out of Galilee." They thought He was born in Nazareth, they didn't even check the records when they could have checked records, because the records stated 'Jesus was born in Bethlehem', because His parents were born ahead, they had to go back to pay the tax under Caesar Augustus. But, did they check the Word? No, they didn't interpret the Word the way God has set It forth. They interpreted It according to their own ideas. And you know something? They missed the very fulfillment of the ages to Israel. Certainly they did.

23. A while ago I said concerning them that they were the sole ones who had the right true religion, the Word of God, because the Gentiles had forfeited. And yet you go back in Scripture find the promise was made to the woman, and Jesus the Redeemer would come. And that Abraham, "and and in thee shall all nations of the earth be blessed." [Gen 22:18] But the Jews haven't see it right to this day. They say..."When the world gets blessed is when we're going to rule the world." Why it's the truth. The matter is they would be the ones that were blessed, and nobody else would, because they'd lord over everybody.

Christ came in simplicity. John the Baptist came in simplicity. They came according to the Word of God. But not according to people's interpretation of that Word of God. And thereby they lost the things that should have been theirs. It caused them to deny the sufferings of Christ which would precede the glory that they were willing to take, but not the suffering they didn't want it.

24. And fifthly: they claimed discernment of spirits. You know that? Certainly they did. Why they said, "We know." In the Book of Matthew chapter 12: 23,

(23) And all the people were amazed, and said, Is not this the son of David?

(24) But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils.

They were discerning spirits, why they said, "This is not the one, (they said) this man doesn't have the Spirit of God." And yet He was the One that was born of the Spirit. He was the One that set up a tabernacle from the womb of Mary. Here He was, God creating Himself in the form of man. And they said, "Why, this fellow's got the devil."

They were the religious authoritative people of the day, and yet they couldn't tell the difference between God and the devil. That's right. Now, brother/sister they were the only spiritual people ...?.... That's right. They were the only spiritual people. I use that word lightly. I'm using it now for its connotation. They were the only ones in Israel who could have qualified in the Spirit for the people of their day, because the Spirit of God was dealing with nobody else. The Word of God was dealing with nobody else. The prophet was the fulfillment with nobody else.

Just like It says that Christ will appear to those who look for Him. How many are looking for Him to come the second time? Christianity that has any fundamental concept whatsoever, numbers by the millions in America around the world, they are looking for Jesus Christ to come. And even the Mohammedan's if I may say so are looking for Him to come. Will they find Him? No. Was Israel looking for Christ to come? Yes sir. Did they miss Him? They did what? Because they did not interpret the Word of God the way the Word was written, but they interpreted according to the way they wanted it, the way they thought.

25. Now, while Israel in the majority was doing this, (rejecting Christ) there was nonetheless a small remnant to whom Scripture was being revealed. Notice, the Angel of the Lord appeared to Zacharias in the temple and revealed the truth of Malachi 3: and Malachi 4:6, the first part. This one would come and prepare the way of the Lord, and he would turn the heart of the fathers to the children. An angel came. That's right. The only way Zacharias would have known anything about it. God sent a supernatural being. The angel appeared to Mary, and revealed the truth of the Seed of the woman according to Scripture.

What was Israel looking for? They didn't know. What was the Seed of the woman? They didn't know. Scripture said, "A woman shall bear a child." They called a virgin in the Hebrew I under-stand is 'almah', which means a young woman. But then it's explained later on as a virgin to bear a child. It says, "The end of His government there'd be no end, but a constant increase." The Holy Ghost came upon Mary, the angel said He would. And this is how Scripture was fulfilled. But Israel was not looking for such a fulfillment of Scripture. Because Israel's positively denied the ability of God to procreate by a human being.

"Why, (they said) a virgin born birth forget it, that's a bunch of hogwash, that's a cover up. The woman's been impregnated by some soldier, some drunken bum, she had an affair, now she wants to blame it onto God." That's right, that's exactly what they said, and history still says the same thing.

26. How will a young woman bear a child? How will it be the seed of the woman and not the seed of man? Because the Holy Ghost came upon her. The angel said that's how Scripture would be fulfilled. And that's exactly how It was fulfilled, because God fulfilled His Own Word in His Own way, thoroughly explained It by a visitation. But, It didn't come the way they wanted. No sir, so they turned It down.

In a dream the angel revealed to Joseph the truth about his wife Mary who was having the Child according to Scripture. Because Mary had said, "Let It be unto me according to Thy Word." [Lk 1:39b] Is that right? What you think the angel pulled a fast one on her? No. Imagine this woman typing the Bride, (which she does) the pure virgin of the Word. She said, "Let it be according to Thy Word," And It was the Holy Ghost came upon her, creating the egg within her womb.

27. You say, "Why did He create the egg in the womb? Because Jesus is the first creation of God. God creating Himself, and He couldn't take a human egg, which is a product of defiled flesh. And the woman became an incubator. And He borrowed a womb to be born from, just like He borrowed a grave to be buried.

And the angel appeared to Joseph said, "This is according to Scripture." How did John know who Jesus was? Because he would have to have attestedHim. The Voice, the Pillar of Fire told John in the desert, and John came saying, "This is the Lamb of God who taketh away the sin of the world." [Jn 1:29b] Israel wanted Messiah to make them a great nation, but He was not coming as a Messiah to make them a great nation. He was coming as Messiah to emancipate them from their sins in order to give them eternal kingdom. God's not interested in temporal earthly kingdoms. As they were all confused about the Millennium. They think of the Millennium, so the love of the Jews are going to be taken to the Millennium and procreate children, God will be here for a thousand years with them. That's a bunch of nonsense.

He's going to destroy all that are left upon the earth at the Coming of Jesus Christ. God's not interested in temporal kingdoms. It's eternal. And when that stone comes down, crushes it all, it has got to rise in the Resurrection. Nothing eternal kingdom has nothing to do with the corrupt world. That may make you think maybe, but it's supposed to. Because that identifies with Scripture. Not what man thinks, but what the Word of God has said.

28. Now, today let's leave Israel. Today, just prior to the Coming of the Lord for His Gentile Bride, we will have a repeat performance. That's right. The two major events. Messiah coming to Israel, born in the flesh, great Savior, and now Christ coming for a Bride. Will that repeat? It will repeat. It'll repeat just like it did then. Always has, only a bare minority ever see the truth. The Gentile church system identifies itself with God claiming a true relationship to Him. You go to anybody right today and you say, "Are you crazy, what do ...?....?" They out curse, they out drink, they out smoke, they live like the devil. Rob you blind, carouse with the world, they're Christians. They identify with God.

"You believe the Bible?"

"Sure." (They really don't, but sure, lip service.)

You turn around and you say to the average fundamentalist and you say, "Sir, I believe the Word plainly teaches as It does in Romans [9:13] that, "Esau have I hated, and Jacob have I loved." If the Elect are foreknown and the reprobates are also foreknown, if the Elect are fore-known of God in Jesus Christ, just the same as He loved Jacob and hated Esau, and as He said concerning Pharaoh, "I will compassionate whom I will compassionate, and have mercy on whom I will have mercy. And I'll despise and cast aside those I want to despise and cast aside." [Rom 9:15]

And right away they said, "It's guff I don't believe in that kind of a God." Then you don't believe in the God of the Bible, say all you want, you've got your own guff. Because my Bible said, "Before Esau was born, God said to the mother, I hate one and love the other. I've reprobated one, and I've chosen the other."

29. Now, how much do you believe your Bible? Not here to hurt anybody just ask a question. Are you willing to take that, or does something rise in your heart and say, "I can't serve a God like that. (I see)) As long as I know Esau's nature." He said, "You're going to deny Me,...?.... hallelujah, ...?.... going to deny Me. [tape quality poor]

He said, "You'll not see My glory, and suffer for fifty million years in hell." Okay, hell for fifty million years. I've got no quarrel with God. I've got no quarrel what God says about Himself, because I'm not smart. My heart can't rebel and go against the Word of the Lord, because that's the only Word I know that brings forth God. But you see where the church is today? The church is a million miles from the Word. Just like it was in Israel's day. When the churches, the National Council Churches go. They said, "We speak for two hundred million Americans." Certainly.

The Gentile church system identifies itself with God claiming a true relationship to God. They'll soon govern access to God by worshipping, because the authority in the book, if you don't belong to an organization you won't be able to have a church. And the man that you love as pastor won't be able to pastor, they'll kill him for trying to do something for you. It's right in the records at the time of war they'd do it.

30. The church today claims to know the Word of God, and surely know it's great promises concerning His Coming. But like Israel they interpret It according to their own understanding, tradition and not by revelation. They are failing to look for Elijah the prophet, just as exactly as they failed to look for John. They said, "Who are you anyway?" But you know, there were a few who knew him. Simeon knew him, by the Holy Ghost. Anna knew Him by the Holy Ghost. As Jesus did rather. But, they knew from John. They accepted John's word.

They repudiated John when he came, though he was to come before Christ, and they today will miss Elijah. You know why? Because they're looking for some great thing that they call restoration. That's right. They're going to miss Elijah the prophet today, just like they missed him in John, because they're looking for their own criterion and not the Word's of God's own declaration. They missed John who was self identified and self authenticated. He said, "God spoke to me, and I'm telling you what He said." But they wouldn't listen, they weren't interested. They said, "If you don't do things the way we want it, we have no time and place for you."

31. Do you realize that Paul the apostle did not rule out the possibility of God sending angels to this Age? Do you realize over here in Galatians 1:8, It says,

(8) But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you...

He didn't say that an angel couldn't come and tell you the truth. He said, "If any angel came supernatural and said other than what I have said, brand him as false." But he did not say that an angel from God could not come and tell the truth. Did an angel appear to Zachariah? Did they listen? A handful. Did an angel appear to Mary? How many listened? Did the one to whom that the angel spake, did he come? Yes he did. Did they listen? No, they didn't listen to John, they looked for some great big thing. And now the Bible says that Elijah must first come and restore. Let's be honest with ourselves this morning, let's get this thing cleared up in a hurry, not taking too much time longer.

32. How many of us this morning have been waiting since we've been born again, waiting for Christ to come? I've been saved since I was eighteen, it's about thirty-five years. So therefore, I have been waiting for Christ to come for thirty-five years. How many have been waiting for Christ to come, let me see you hands. Don't be ashamed, put up ...?.... Thank you, that's good.

Let me ask you this question now: did you know the Bible said Elijah must first come? So, how many have been looking for Elijah to come before they look for Christ? Let me see you hands. Now, don't be ashamed to put them up, I want to see. Nobody? See, we're all wrong I folded my arms, because I had to. It's on purpose. I would have sat on them, if I had ...?.... I couldn't put up my hand.

And yet, the Bible says, "Elijah must first come and restore." [Mt 17:11b] But you say, "Bro. Vayle that's the Jews." Prove it. Not the Jews. The Book of Daniel is to the Jews. You can't find one Word of God about Elijah to the Jews.

33. When the Bride is gone after chapter 4 in the Book of Revelation, you can't find the Gentiles any longer, and you can't find Elijah to the Jews. But in chapter 10: of the Book of Revelation, the Bible says, "In the days of the voice of the seventh messenger, (he's an earthly man) when he shall begin to declare." [1 Rev 10:7]

That's exactly what It says over here. Peter said what the prophets declared. It wasn't even revealed to them. And John said what what's going to be declared. It was what the prophets declared, and it will be revealed to the people, the mysteries of God should be finished. And the great mystery of God is Christ coming back for the Bride.

34. Let's look at this Scripture for a minute. It says over in the Book of Malachi, "That he shall turn the hearts of the fathers to the children." [Mal 4:6a] What does It mean? Let's look at the Book of Luke and prove it, show you what It means. It isn't difficult, all we've got to do is have an open mind. And read what's written. Luke 1:15

(15) For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb.

(16) And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.

(17) And he shall go before (God, now, John shall go before God)in the spirit and power of (Elijah), to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,...

And in the Greek, the word 'kai' can be translated 'even'. So therefore, it's not a conjunction joining two together, it's telling you what it is.

(17) ...(even) the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.

What is this man going to do when he comes on the scene to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children? It tells you what it is. It's turning the disobedient . Now what is the word 'disobedient'? It's in the Greek it means 'to hear alongside'. Vernacular means 'to hear alongside' means to 'not to pay attention to what's said'. Now what is said? From God the Word. So, these people are outside the Word though they're claiming the Word. And John the Baptist took them right into the Word, and they did listen to the Word, receive Jesus Christ.

36. Now, It says the same thing is going to happen right today. He's going to now turn the hearts of the children back to the fathers. Who are the fathers? The fathers brother/sister, belong to the Gentile, they no longer belong to the Jews, because the Word of God distinctly said, "He has made a one Jew and Gentile one." Can Elijah come and turn their hearts back to the fathers? Moses? No, and that's exactly where they go back. What are they going to turn back to? The original fathers, which are priests-Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph, they're back. You wouldn't get Joseph in there, but you'd get the rest. Isaac, Abraham, and Jacob, three.

Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. They weren't under law, they were under grace. He came and turned their hearts right back to the grace of God. Came and turned them back to sacrifice, which was based upon Abraham. Abraham's original faith was built upon a sacrifice. The Lord our righteous. And He came upon the scene, and John the Baptist turned them right to the Word. Do you understand? Show you.

37. Let's go to the Book of Acts 3: Peter preaching the very same thing, verse 25

(25) (You) are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed.

For children of the prophets? Children of the Word. How can you be a child of the prophet without fulfilling the Word of God for your day? God has prophesied the very things that figure speaking of here the Book of Acts explaining in 1 Peter 1:10-12, the very things that he prophesied years ago when he prophesied, were now were ministered to the very generation Peter stood before, and he said, "You are the children of the prophets, you're the very ones the prophets we're speaking of. You're their children. You're that Word, being fulfilled right now, very Word.

The hearts of the fathers have been turned. The hearts of Israel have been turned. And the turning they went everywhere preaching the Gospel. And the people were careful...there's only one people prepared of the Lord brother/sister, and that's the Book of Romans 9: that's what they're there for. John came, he didn't come the way they wanted Him to come. They didn't understand. But he restored the Word to the people.

38. Now, the Bible said, "Elijah must first come and restore all things." [Mt 17:11] And what is your understanding of restoration? Now, I know the majority of people say, "Well, there's got to be a great big revival come" How can there be a big revival where they constantly keep saying, bringing back the king. When the Bible said, "The world is going to go all the wondering after the beast." [Rev 13:3b]

How can you have a worldwide revival at the same time the world goes after the beast? What is it? The Bible said, "Elijah must first come to restore." And the restoration brother/sister, has always been by the Word that God's people be restored to the Word to God. Because listen, you can't fall away from God, except you fall from that Word. You know that?

39. Now, you say, "Bro. Vayle, I feel a certain thing." I don't care about your feelings. You see, that's where women went wrong when they preach the Gospel. Now, I'm not here to fuss about women preaching the Gospel, and having short hair, and that's their business, they can do what they want. I'm going to tell you one thing: women say, "What's the difference, we're doing a good Work?" Read your Bibles and find out.

"Oh, I haven't fallen from God Bro. Vayle, because so and so." No, don't give me that stuff brother/sister, read your Bibles. They have always fallen from God by falling from the Word. And there is no restoration that God has particularly restored by the Word. Because you don't know what God wants, except by that Word. Now, we're living the day like Israel. They looked for the Messiah, He came. They said, "That can't be the One." We're looking for Christ to come now, this is our juncture period." Are we going to miss Him?

40. Let's find out what the end time is like, shall we? And I'm going to close. Matthew 25: There's much I can say yet, as you could understand, try to clarify this subject. So, let's read Matthew 25: beginning at the first few verses on the parable of the coming of Christ like unto the ten virgins.

(1) Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.

(2) And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.

(3) They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:

(4) But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.

(5) While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.

(6) And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go out to meet him.

(7) Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.

(8) And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.

(9) ...the wise answered, saying, (no) lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.

(10) And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.

(11) Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.

(12) But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.

(13) Watch therefore, for (you) know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.

Now, I want to show you something here as you read this you're going to read It wrong. Because there's a peculiar word in the Greek which means 'to come and to go', and depends on how it's being put with the suffixes and prefixes to make it exactly right. Now, in here It says that these virgins took their lamps and went forth. That's not true, they came out. In the day of Israel you had to come out of the synagogue and organization, they cast you out in most cases. Today it's always been the cry, "Come out of her My people and be not partakers of her sins." [Rev 18:4b] What sins? The sins of Nicolaitainism, which is the sin of organization. Now, for a person to say, "Come out," is different from a person going forth. Because you've got to be in the building to go forth, and then someone out there got to be crying, "Come out!"

41. Now, notice It says, "They went out to meet Him." They came out to meet the Bridegroom. Five were wise, five foolish and so on. And now notice in verse 6

(6) And at midnight (this is the end hour now, this is our day, the midnight hour) ...Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go out to meet him.

Again, this is not a proper translation. Do you know if you look up your rendition the word 'cometh' should be in italics? It is not in the original. I told you awhile ago, what are we looking for, Christ to come? Hallelujah, got to wait for Jesus. It says, "Elijah must first come." [Mt 17:11] So, if Elijah must first come this cannot be the proper cry. "Behold the Bridegroom cometh." It's not in the Greek, it's not in the Aramaic. It's "Behold the Bridegroom." Not that He's coming, it's just behold Him. And It doesn't say, "Go out!" It says, "Come out!"

All right, here's John the Baptist, he said, "There's standing one amongst you don't even know." They worshipped God all these years and didn't know Him. They said, "He's this kind of a God, that kind of a God. And John said, "He's standing out there, and you don't even know Him."

42. Now remember, He's God. Because the Bible said, "Make straight, he'll go before Him, (before God) before the Lord God of Israel, John will go before Him, making straight His path, He'll do it in the Spirit and the Power of Elijah." Which is rapturing faith, which is Rapture brother/sister, because the Elect must be raptured.

And He said, "There's standing one among you that you don't know." [Jn 1:26] "Now, I come baptizing and I'll declare unto you such a one, upon whom the Spirit is." So, Jesus comes in the water and baptizes, "there's the Lamb of God. Behold Him your God." Just like Pilate said, "Behold your king."

And they said, "We don't want Him, we can't take that."

43. Now, before there can be a coming out to meet Him, there's got to be the cry, "Behold the Bridegroom." Now, watch verse 6 again.

(6) And at midnight there was a cry...Behold, the bridegroom...(no, that's wrong.)

Because that sounds like at midnight somebody saying, "The Redcoats are coming." They even said in Boston, there's a place down here with a hundred boats and a thousand horses, come on down." Why, that's too clear, It doesn't say that at all in the Bible. It says, "A great clamor went out." A clamor has no sense of direction. A clamor has nothing specific, it'll arouse you, but you won't know what to do.

Now, let me ask you, who's right today amongst us nine hundred organizations? Behold the Bridegroom! How would know your Bridegroom if you saw Him? I've got a God He wouldn't reprobate anybody, He'd just...He wouldn't. And why did He? Why did not Moses go down to Egypt? And say, "Let's solve this problem by praying Pharaoh into the kingdom."

"For this cause have I raised thee up." [Rom 9:17a] "Now, we're going to change that God." No, you're not. People don't like that kind of preaching. They don't want that kind of Word. What is your Bridegroom this morning brother/sister, could you tell Him if you saw Him? What kind of picture have you got here this morning? Is it the Word picture, or is it your own picture?

44. Now, there's a clamor going up, because the one group with the power of God, remember, there is only one really spiritual people in this world brother/sister, who even talk about the Holy Ghost, really the Holy Ghost, and that's the Pentecostals. Let's be honest, the Methodist haven't been in for a hundred years, the Baptist for hundreds of years, and the rest of them haven't for hundreds of years. Except for one or two little groups somewhere here and there. But, as far as a real spiritual people go, there has been nobody who talk the truth, or wanted to get the truth on the Baptism with the Holy Ghost, and the Word of God, except the Pentecostals. But you've got two groups, you've got those who know the Bridegroom, is one God, even the Lord Jesus Christ. You focus on His Coming, and you've got the rest. You've got the power too. That's the two vines. And they say, "Well, we can demonstrate in power too."

You want to see something? I'll show you how God is. I'll show you what God is. I'll show this, I'll show you that. But, somebody brother/sister, has got to be off the Word. Because there aren't three gods, only one.

45. You say, "Bro. Vayle, will that make a difference?" Well, I want to ask you a question honey, the Bible says, "Go, ...?.... bringing those who sleep in Jesus when He comes. ...?.... under the Bible says, "God is coming, bringing those who sleep in Jesus when He comes."

Arise up, by the spirit of Elijah, John the Baptist withstood the ...?.... pulled back the curtains and said, "There He is! " And he's fulfilled the Word exactly the way the Word was to be fulfilled ...?... And the Bible said, "Before Jesus Christ comes back for His Bride, the spirit of Elijah must come again in a prophet to the Gentiles." And he is going to have to pull back the cover of the Word, and you're going to stand, and see your God revealed in that Word. And the world is going to say, "We don’t want Him."

46. And the people who say, "There's a Bride", they'll say we don't want it." Because of organization, and they're Trinitarians, and they got power, but they haven't got the Word. And right today we have this where Jesus Himself said at the end time, only the Elect would not be deceived.

And when the Bridegroom, just before He's coming, a clamor will go up all over world. A clamor, not a cry of direction now. But It will be the Word of vindicated, indicated prophet against the rest of them, and they'll turn down the vindicated prophet a million to one. They'll say, "Well, we're going to go with what we believe."

And the Scripture says, "That's the very time that the Bride goes in." It's a dimension. What's up? I don't know what's up and what's down, but here He is, He'll be here, He'll be amongst us. That's right. How much will go ...?.... I care less. But It says, "They'll walk in." Taken up!

47. What does It mean 'taken up' when Scripture said God came down? And you know how He came down? He came down by Moses preaching to Israel, down in Egypt. He said, "I'm coming down to Egypt." And He sent Moses. So, if God says, "Come." How far is up? I don't know, I don't care. I only know, It says here, "This is the condition of the end time, and they're going to say, 'Behold the Bridegroom'." And they're going to be screaming, "He's coming." But Elijah must first come and restore brother/ sister.

Now, we're right back to what I said this morning. Palestine is owned by Israel. Jerusalem is no longer trodden down. The times of the Gentiles is fulfilled. Messiah must soon appear to the Jews. But, before He comes to the Jews, He must rapture His Bride. But before the Bride can be raptured she must have the hearts of the children turned back to the fathers. Which as John showed us here, Luke showed as, it's going back to the Word. How can it be done? A vindicated prophet brother/sister, is the only answer. Not to the Jews, but to the Gentiles. Brother/sister, it isn't enough to hold this Word up like a fetish and say, "I Believe Paul."

48. There was a Mount Carmel showdown in America, you might not be aware of it. But three hundred Pentecostal preachers withstood Bro. Branham. They called him to a special meeting at breakfast. I have many friends who were there. Don't believe me, I'll bring them in. I think, I'll bring a friend of mine, he'll tell you, he was there.

And Bro. Branham said, "Listen, you're onto my back, because of Jesus Name Baptism. You're onto my back, because of my preaching of the serpent seed. And because you know the Word of God doesn't teach women preachers. Now, (he said) which of you will take your Bible and stand beside me?" He said, "Not one did, because the Pillar of Fire hung there."

You say, "Bro. Vayle you believe that one single man has the authority to speak?" John had the authority speaking, he was the first Elijah ministry of Christ, the second one is coming he has the same aughority. You say, "But John the Baptist was self vindicated." The second will be too. And John the Baptist didn't even have a miracle brother/sister, but William Branham could stand on the platform as no man but Jesus Christ there and say, "Bring me your worse cases, I guarantee healing." Show me one time out of thousands ...?....

49. Elijah must first come and restore. But there's no restoration without Word brother/sister. You want further proof, did David try to bring the ark back home? Did he? Oh yes, he tried. Did he succeed? No. Why? It wasn't according to the Word. He said, "Let's build a new cart. Let's go ...?... You don't restore except the Word. But, how do you know, except a man comes?

This Word is veiled in mystery. It has always been, because the prophets were ministering to a people, who were not in their era, but there must come a time when the Word is manifested, revealed, and manifest in the people. It was in Christ, and it's going to be in our day too. What are we looking for? Well, I'm looking for what the prophet of God taught. I'm looking for the Word that he gave, be revealed in His people. And that's the people that are going to go in the Rapture.

You say, "You make that a very exclusive group." I didn't make any group exclusive, God did it for me. Well, the Lord bless you. I could just go on and on. But there's no use. Tonight, I want to bring you a message as to exactly what a prophet is. And exactly why they turned down Bro. Branham. Exactly why you may have some thoughts in your heart, and I want to help you concerning those thoughts. Because you might well say, "I can't accept him for a prophet, because that doesn't line up with my thinking." Let's find out what the Word of God said about prophets, and let's find out what a prophet was like according to the Word of God. Will that settle you? That's the best I can do.

The Lord bless you brother/sister, we're in a critical period today. Let us not be deceived, that millions are going to go into a Rapture, because they will not. But as it was in the days of Sodom, and Lot, only a handful. That's right. God have pity on us to realize that. Not what we think, or what we say, but what is according to Scripture, and scriptural interpretation by God fulfilling and vindicating It, that's what makes the difference. Amen. Let's rise.

[Message ends]